Mark Vernon said a tumultuous relationship strained by allegations of sexual abuse sparked an altercation that landed him in the hospital with two black eyes and a bullet in his spine.

Vernon’s girlfriend, Terry Gail Walker, has been charged with attempted murder, accused of pulling the trigger.

Vernon said Monday from his hospital bed at CaroMont Regional Medical Center that he was thankful to be alive. He said the terrifying experience shocked him.

“I don’t know if she was trying to kill me or cripple me,” he said of Walker.

Rough relationship

Vernon said he and Walker were both married and had children when they started seeing each other.

Despite the circumstances, they were drawn to each other, Vernon said.

He said he fell in love with her.

“I couldn’t stay away from her,” Vernon said.

But recent allegations against the 40-year-old man caused problems.

Investigators are checking into a claim that Vernon sexually abused a female relative of Walker’s, according to Sgt. M.K. Shelor with Gaston County Police.

Vernon said that Walker started carrying around a recording device and trying to get him to confess.

According to Vernon, he has nothing to confess. He denies the allegations.

Shelor said the investigation into the claim of sexual misconduct is ongoing.

Violent outburst

A domestic violence protective order was issued against Vernon in March, according to court documents.

Vernon was to stay away from Walker’s Dallashome and away from Walker’s female relative involved in the sex abuse investigation. In the restraining order Vernon was accused of making a lewd comment to the girl.

But that piece of paper didn’t keep Vernon and Walker apart, according to Shelor.

In fact, on Friday Walker picked Vernon up and brought him to her house, Shelor said.

Walker’s relative wasn’t home, but Vernon still shouldn’t have been on the property, said Shelor.

Vernon said he spent the night at Walker’s, and had breakfast with her Saturday morning.

According to Vernon, Walker’s ex-husband and adult son came into the living room and jumped him.

Vernon said the men punched and kicked him. He said he doesn’t know how many times he was hit.

“After a couple of rounds in the face you start losing track,” he said.

When he tried to escape, Vernon said Walker pulled out a rifle.

“She unloaded a .22 rifle to my stomach,” he said.

Vernon said he stumbled outside and to the road and called 911.

Additional charges

According to Shelor, the two men who beat up Vernon could face assault charges.

Page 2 of 2 - Vernon could be charged for breaking a restraining order.

Shelor doesn’t expect to take out any other charges against Walker in the incident.

Walker, 38, was arrested Saturday and assigned a $1 million bond. She made a first appearance in court Monday afternoon where a judge upheld the bond. She remains in Gaston County Jail.

Some of Walker’s relatives attended the hearing but none wanted to speak on the record about the incident.

Vernon said Walker needs to be held accountable for what she did to him. And he continually denied any sexual misconduct.

“I’ve not touched that girl,” he said. “Before I get accused of something like that I’d pull the trigger.”

You can reach reporter Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.